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October 7, 1993 <br /> NOTE: The below is a summary prepared by John Weber for me last week in <br /> response to some questions by Kevin Hornbuckle. I was working to modify this <br /> into a Council Newsletter item but didn't complete that work since Kevin and I <br /> spoke regarding the issue and his concerns seemed resolved although he wished <br /> to be informed if events changed. <br /> Feel free to use any of the text regarding the issues of Tree Felling permits <br /> not being needed or about the brush pile on the right -of -way. <br /> Thanks Johnny <br /> SUBJECT: EAST SKINNER'S BUTTE SITE CLEARING <br /> On September 22, 1993 the city Planning Division learned from a Whiteaker <br /> resident that some site clearing had taken place on a parcel of land located <br /> on the east side of Skinner's Butte. The lot in question is zoned R -3, <br /> Multiple Family Residential District, and is located in the East Skinner Butte <br /> Historic District. <br /> City staff from the Planning Division and Public Works Maintenance Division <br /> have visited the site and confirmed that the owner, Steve Deplama, has removed <br /> all of the understory vegetation, and a significant tree from the site, which <br /> was a hardwood approximately 12 inches in diameter. The site is now <br /> substantially cleared. <br /> The City's Urban Forester determined this felling is not a violation of the <br /> Tree Preservation Ordinance. Section 6.305(1) of the Eugene Municipal Code <br /> allows the felling of up to 5 trees (8 inches or more in diameter) from a <br /> parcel of private property that is 20,000 square feet or more without a <br /> permit. The parcel in question is larger than 20,000 square feet in size. No <br /> further action is being planned on this particular case by the city's Urban <br /> Forester. <br /> A pile of brush from this clearing operation does encroach on Cheshire street <br /> right -of -way but is not felt to be an immediate hazard. Public Works <br /> Maintenance staff is in the process of contacting the property owner to ask <br /> for this material to be removed. <br /> This incident has been studied by Teresa Bishow in the Planning Division and <br /> Marsha Miller in Land Use Management to determine if the work done was in <br /> violation of the Historic District ordinance. Their conclusion was that there <br /> was no clear violation of the Historic District ordinance. Also, a grading <br /> permit under the Uniform Building Code was not required since the work did not <br /> exceed the threshold of 50 cubic yards, 2 feet of cut or, 1 foot of fill. <br /> Planning felt that review of the Historic District ordinance in context of <br /> what was allowed to take place on East Skinners Butte may be warranted, which <br /> could lead to future code amendments. <br />